Tree donations wsought for Shepherdstown cemetery

September 8, 2012

Shepherdstown's 250th Anniversary Committee is encouraging residents to celebrate the anniversary by donating trees to the town's historic Elmwood Cemetery this fall. The donations will assist the cemetery's "Tree of Remembrance" campaign, which was launched last year to replace old trees that have had to be removed and to plant new trees in the cemetery's newest section.

"This is a great way to support one of Shepherdstown's most beautiful and significant historical resources," said Committee Chair Meredith Wait. "And it's easy to do."

The cemetery has a list of approved tree species. All donors have to do is contact cemetery staff, tell them which kind of tree or trees they want to donate and the cemetery will handle all arrangements for planting.

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Trees are always planted in the fall, so this is a good time to donate them.

Those who don't want to bear the full cost of a tree can still help by sending a check in any amount to the cemetery's Tree Fund. All contributions to the fund go toward the purchase and planting of new trees and care and maintenance of existing trees.

To donate a tree or learn more about the process, contact Richard Blue at the cemetery at 304-725-2201 or rblue@frontiernet.net.

Chartered in 1869, Elmwood is a public cemetery managed by a volunteer board of directors. It incorporates two older cemeteries: a Presbyterian burying ground established in 1780 and a Methodist graveyard established in 1833.